Industry & Services >> CEO Interviews >> January 20, 1999

Douglas L. Becker – Sylvan Learning Systems Inc (slvn)

DOUGLAS L. BECKER is President and Co-Chief Executive Officer of Sylvan Learning Systems, Inc. Since assuming the leadership role of Sylvan Learning Systems, Inc. together with co-CEO Chris Hoehn-Saric in 1991, Mr. Becker has transformed the company from a small tutoring company into a dynamic, multifaceted global leader in lifelong education, often referred to as the brand name in American education. With Becker at the helm, Sylvan's revenues have doubled nearly five times over the past eight years. This steady growth, as well as the expansion of the company's market strength, have led to Sylvan's being recognized as one of the nation's fastest growing and most promising corporations. Sylvan was named on Fortune magazine's list of the nation's fastest growing companies for 1996 and 1997, on the list of the 'Top 10 Franchise Opportunities' by Franchise Times magazine, and the 'Best of the Best' franchises by Entrepreneur magazine, to name but a few. Success magazine's '1998 Franchise Gold 100' named Sylvan the second best franchise opportunity in the nation. In addition, the Baltimore Business Journal recently recognized Becker as '1998 Business Person of the Year.' Beyond Sylvan, Mr. Becker demonstrates his commitment to community through his service as Chairman of Port Discovery The Baltimore Children's Museum, a $30 million world-class educational attraction in Baltimore's famed Inner Harbor. In addition, he is a trustee or director of numerous education organizations, including The Baltimore Museum of Art, Washington College, Baltimore Reads, Inc., the Enoch Pratt Free Library System, the University of Maryland Foundation and Empower Baltimore. Profile
TWST: Could you start out by giving us a brief overview of Sylvan

Learning Systems, your history, services, customers, those kinds of

things?

Mr. Becker: Sure. Today, Sylvan is one of the